After Wang Jinghong left here, there were only two people left in the huge palace, Zhu Gaoxu and Miaojin.

Zhu Gaoxu thought for a while, then slapped his palm on the file and the chapter in front of him, raised his head and exhaled a breath, just as he met Miaojin's gaze.

He looked at her and smiled. The smile didn't have any special meaning, but seeing the delicate feeling that the concubine was so eye-catching and cared about him alone, he had no reason to be in a bad mood.

Miaojin stood up: "I'll go find a book to read, and the saint doesn't have to pay attention to me." ”

"It's okay, I don't have anything I have to do right away." Zhu Gaoxu said, "Sometimes the feeling of doing nothing is really good. ”

Miao Jin also looked at him and smiled.

With that, he stood up and walked around the spacious and bright hall. The sunny weather makes this place very clear, and the fragrance of osmanthus can be faintly smelled in the air, and I don't know where the osmanthus tree has bloomed.

Zhu Gaoxu walked to a picture on the wall, and was immediately attracted to it, so he stood there and looked up and down carefully.

"Snow Creek Late Crossing." Miaojin's voice said.

Zhu Gaoxu turned his head to look at her. She pointed to the painting on the wall, "The name of this painting, Snow Creek Wandu, should be a painting from the Song Dynasty." ”

"Miaojin is really insightful, don't you say I don't know yet." Zhu Gaoxu said, "Is it famous?" ”

Miao Jin said: "Some fame. But this one should be a fake. ”

Zhu Gaoxu suddenly felt a little incredible, "You know the authenticity at a glance?" ”

Miao Jin shook his head and smiled: "It is reasonable to deduce that the real thing will not hang here." Even if the saint is rich all over the world and has all the treasures in the palace, he is not interested in such a violent destruction of heavenly things. After all, it is an ancient painting, and if it is hung on the wall like this, it will be destroyed in many years. ”

Zhu Gaoxu looked at her and suddenly realized: "It makes sense, I didn't expect such a simple thing just now. ”

He turned around, and couldn't help but reach out and touch the beard on his chin and take a closer look.

Miao Jin said softly: "The saint likes this painting? ”

Zhu Gaoxu was noncommittal, looked at the painting and said slowly: "It seems to have just been replaced, I haven't seen it before." ”

"I see." Miaojin smiled.

Zhu Gaoxu said in a deep voice: "I have seen some Chinese paintings of snow scenes, and my impression is always large and blank, which seems to have a far-reaching artistic conception. This painting is special, it occupies the entire paper, and it looks very full, with a sense of quiet elegance. ”

Miaojin nodded approvingly, "So it's not an imitation, it's self-conscious." ”

Zhu Gaoxu stretched out his hand and pointed to the lower left corner, "These two literati are playing chess, right?" Thatched huts, snow scenes, ferries, and games are originally quite elegant images, but the artistic conception is not ethereal, but cordial and plain...... This painting looks like it makes me feel inexplicably comfortable and down-to-earth. ”

Miao Jin also stared at the painting carefully, looking at it thoughtfully.

Zhu Gaoxu was silent for a while, and then said: "In the snow, on the banks of mountain streams, single-family thatched huts; The owner here should not have given up the pursuit of elegance. However, the host and the guest seem to be in the prime of life, and they may be officials who are consolidating friendships; It could also be a businessman, taking the opportunity to talk about business

Cooperate; It's a fun ferry, it has access to the outside world. Entering the WTO, but there is not only a vulgarity in my heart. was born, but did not give up the business based on the world, not isolated from the world and became a rootless Ping. ”

Miao Jin said softly: "It's quite interesting that the saint looks at this painting like this. ”

Zhu Gaoxu said: "What was it originally trying to express? ”

Miaojin shook his head and said: "The viewer understands himself, good paintings are like this." ”

At this moment, a eunuch's voice lacking a thick timbre came from behind him: "Emperor Yu, Qi Tai, the secretary of the military department, is ordered to meet you." ”

Zhu Gaoxu turned around, and sure enough, he saw Qi Tai kowtowing outside the main hall.

"Qi Butang is exempt from courtesy, come in and speak." Zhu Gaoxu said.

Qi Tai got up from the ground, walked to Zhu Gaoxu's side, and said to Miao Jinzuo: "The minister has seen the concubine. ”

Miao Jin said: "Qi Butang is more polite. ”

Zhu Gaoxu walked behind the large table in the middle, and Qi Tai followed and glanced at the painting on the wall as he turned around. Zhu Gaoxu suddenly asked, "Does Qi Butang know this painting?" ”

Qi Tai hugged his fists and said: "Back to the saint, it seems to be the 'Snow Creek Evening Crossing' of the Song Dynasty." ”

Zhu Gaoxu listened and gave a thumbs up. Miao Jin stood there with a smile, not saying a word.

Sitting down behind the big table, Zhu Gaoxu pointed to the stool on the side and said, "Qi Butang sit." ”

Qi Tai arched his hand and said, "Thank you, the Holy Lord, for giving me a seat." ”

"I talked to Xia Yuanji once before, talking about treasure money and currency on the market, but nothing came of it. Those things may have drawbacks, but they are all related to the operation of people from all sides and the imperial court, and it is not a trivial matter to move. Zhu Gaoxu said directly, "Now it seems that if Haimao can bring back a large amount of gold and silver as expected, it may be the best solution to solve the currency problem." ”

When Qi Tai heard this, he was stunned for a moment, and had to say, "The Holy Lord is reasonable. ”

He was noncommittal, and he may also be wondering, is he a secretary of the military department and can manage treasure money and other things? However, a minister of Qi Tai's level is still very calm.

Zhu Gaoxu glanced at him and said, "I also talked to Hu Hui. Hu Hu talked about his ambition to be an official, so that the people would not be hungry or cold, as long as they could live. Probably no emperor would oppose such political ambitions, and the people would not rebel if they lived, and the dynasty would be able to survive. ”

Qi Tai and Miao Jin both subconsciously looked sideways, slightly surprised by such words.

Zhu Gaoxu continued: "But the harvest of farmers depends not only on the amount of land, but also on the sky. If we want to stay afloat, why do we only think about taxing agriculture? ”

Qi Tai said: "The Holy Mingjian, the officials, the military, and the people of Beijing, there are more than one million people, and there are many people who are not engaged in farming. If there is no food, the Jingshi may not be able to sustain it. ”

"Daming is still a country dominated by agriculture, of course, it has to collect grain." Zhu Gaoxu said, "However, if we have a perfect maritime trade system, we can also supply the needs of Beijing by buying and selling grain by sea from southern countries." The cost of sea freight is lower, and the cost is not necessarily comparable to transporting grain from states and counties. ”

He paused, "I'm just taking food as an example. For example, those prefectures and counties that supplied the border army with military supplies, from raising horses, making armor and weapons, to requisitioning a large number of people to serve and transport, were all oppressing the people and delaying farming. And it is impossible to guarantee the sophistication and timeliness, the officials and the people everywhere

Just as a burden, it is enough to be able to cope with the past. But if the treasury had sufficient money to do these things by means of trade, it would certainly save a lot of trouble. ”

Qi Tai thought for a while, nodded lightly, and then asked carefully, "The Holy Lord intends to change the law?" ”

"It's not time yet." Zhu Gaoxu said, "I hope that aspiring ministers will come forward to preside over major events, and I only need to give some support." However, the recent strategy of Japan, Malacca and other places is not a big deal, and there are many officials who dissuade them. It's as if I'm against everyone, and it's hard to get going......"

Qi Tai hurriedly clenched his fists and said, "The ministers have a negative grace. Whoever can understand the painstaking work of the saints must share the sorrow of the king. ”

Zhu Gaoxu listened and nodded with satisfaction, he knew that Qi Tai was willing to stand with him.

"Qi Butang, please take a look." Zhu Gaoxu gradually became interested, and pointed to the diagram on the large desktop, "'Someone mentioned' a strategy, and Qi Butang consulted it in detail. Look here, from the east of the Strait of Malacca, all the coastal countries and regions will be included in the trade system of the Ming Dynasty; And we will collect taxes and make laws, and the income must be astronomical. Within this system, there are still large gold and silver mines in Japan that can be mined.

Further west, the sea route is too far to be easily controlled. However, silk porcelain is still a favorite thing in the Far West, and we can establish some strongholds to open up the 'Maritime Silk Road'. The road continues to the straits between Persia and northern Africa. Along the road, you can do business in Muslim areas such as Persia and India; Further on, they established trade and military forts in Egypt, and used them as a base camp to trade with merchants from Nestorian countries such as Europe (Christ) in the markets on the southern shore of the Mediterranean......"

Qi Tai glared, as if he didn't quite understand what Zhu Gaoxu said, and he replied: "The minister is not sure about the situation in the distance, but judging from the charts of the fleet going down to the Western Ocean, what the Holy Lord pointed out is probably tens of thousands of miles away, and it is a little out of reach when I think about it. ”

Zhu Gaoxu said: "It's not so exaggerated, west of the Strait of Malacca, we can set up yamen like the Xuanwei Division and the Governor to seal off some strongholds." Silk, porcelain, and spices are all profitable in the distance, even if the water is long. If the fighter plane is right, it is okay to plunder the wealth a little. ”

Qi Tai muttered: "The grand plan of the Holy Lord is beyond the knowledge of ordinary people. ”

"It does sound like a fantasy." Zhu Gaoxu said stupidly, "This matter was proposed by a certain official who went to sea, and Qi Butang should not publicize it for the time being, can you understand?" ”

Qi Tai hurriedly said: "The minister's decree." He pondered for a moment, clenched his fists and said, "The minister has a matter in front of him, please show it to the saint." Tsushima Island is a barren land, and now that we occupy this place, the target should be the Japanese mainland, how should the military headquarters be arranged? ”

Zhu Gaoxu exhaled and frowned, "Stabilize first." We have discussed before, and we have only one goal, to occupy the territory of Iwami Province in order to obtain the silver mine. However, in the meantime, it is necessary to make use of Japan's domestic problems as much as possible to reduce the cost of using troops, so it is necessary to be calm for a while. ”

Qi Taibai said: "The minister understands. He raised his eyes and glanced at Zhu Gaoxu, as if to observe whether the emperor's lecture was over.

However, Zhu Gaoxu did not mean to send off the guest, he still rubbed his palm on his forehead, trying to find a way to make Qi Tai understand.

Zhu Gaoxu felt that sometimes he and Qi Tai Junchen had a heart-to-heart connection, and sometimes it was like an invisible wall, which was really touching. ()

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